Athens-Clarke County commissioners are expected to vote Tuesday on a proposal which would hand out $500,000 in federal money to six local non-profits for youth development and violence prevention programs this summer.
The half million dollars comes from American Rescue Plan funding, and would go to a half-dozen local groups, including the East Athens Development Corporation, Divas Who Win, and the Athens Land Trust.
Commissioners agreed to place the item on their consent agenda, where non-controversial legislation normally goes. But at a meeting last month, District 9’s Ovita Thornton expressed her hope that the programs the money supports will address a growing gang problem in the county.
"That is our problem now, is drugs and gangs," Thornton said. "And we have to deter kids away from both. I think we're sometimes scared about using that word, and it's happening every day - in my community it's happening every day."
Tomorrow’s commission meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall and will be streamed live on the county’s YouTube channel.
